Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
Sonoma County timber-to-vineyard conversion headed for approval
| by Brett Wilkison April 6, 2012 Santa Rosa Press Democrat |
[excerpt:]
State officials signaled this week they intend to approve a controversial timber-to-vineyard conversion project in rural northwest Sonoma County, overruling the latest wave of objections, this time from some neighbors, local tribes and several elected officials.
Napa-based Artesa Vineyards, owned by the Spanish wine giant Grupo Codorniu, plans to create 116 acres of premium chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards, 20 acres of roads and a nine-acre reservoir on 324 acres of second-growth forestland, former orchards and grazed meadows just east of Annapolis.
The project is much smaller than vineyard plans in the same area by state pension giant CalPERS, which wants to clear up to 1,769 acres on 19,652 acres. Both projects have drawn fire from environmentalists nationwide and others opposed to cutting trees to make room for wine grapes.
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Artesa Winery vineyard conversion nears approval?
CAL FIRE released the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Artesa Winery’s plan to clear-cut 154 acres of coastal redwood forest to plant a vineyard in Annapolis. The EIR states that the project will have no significant environmental or cultural impacts.
